Though ardent Albert Review readers are likely already familiar with the concept of a facial serum, advocates of a minimalist cleanse-exfoliate-moisturise skincare routine may be hesitant to add another step. However, facial serums are an easy way to treat targeted skin concerns and make for a powerful addition to your grooming arsenal.
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While face creams, lotions, and moisturisers work to effectively hydrate and moisturise your skin, they typically have a low (or no) concentration of active ingredients. In contrast, serums pack a powerful punch, penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin and delivering a high percentage of active ingredients like antioxidants, botanicals, nutrients, and amino acids.
The best face serums for men work to treat everything from acne, enlarged pores, and dull skin to wrinkles and fine lines. And in reality, despite their often dainty and somewhat fiddly appearance, facial serums take about an extra ten seconds to apply. We’re sure you can spare that.
The best ingredients to look for in a face serum for men
Hydrating and moisturising serums
The best ingredients to promote hydration are likely familiar to even skincare novices. Hyaluronic acid supports hydration by pulling water from the air and binding it to your skin; these are best used in humid areas which have ample moisture in the air. Other hydrating skincare ingredients to look for include aloe vera, glycerin, sodium PCA, polyglutamic acid, allantoin, panthenol, liquorice root, and tremella mushroom.
When it comes to chronically dry skin, sometimes hydration isn’t enough. Moisturising ingredients are necessary to lock in hydration and seal it into the skin. While hydrating serums are typically water-based, moisturising serums are oil-based (however it’s possible to find hybrid serums that combine the two. Moisturising serums work to support skin barrier health and prevent transepidermal water loss, with good moisturising ingredients including ceramides, squalane, and plant-based oils.
Exfoliating serums
Oily, dry, and acne-prone skin types alike can benefit from the addition of an exfoliating serum. Regular exfoliation works to slough off dead skin cells and unclog pores, leaving you with smoother, brighter skin. Those with dry, dull, mature, or discoloured skin can benefit from the addition of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic or lactic acids. Those with sensitive skin types can try mandelic acid, a more gentle AHA that works well for those prone to redness or rosacea.
Meanwhile, those with oily or acne-prone skin will benefit most from salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that penetrates deeper into the skin to unclog pores and prevent breakouts from reoccurring.
Brightening serums
Dull skin, hyperpigmentation, and discolouration responds well to vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that aids in protecting against free radical damage and promoting collagen production. Other good brightening ingredients include niacinamide, kojic acid, and liquorice extract. You’ll often also find hydrating and exfoliating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lactic and glycolic acids, and ceramides in brightening serums; these work cohesively to promote smoother, brighter, and more hydrated skin.
Smoothing and firming serums
When it comes to preventing the signs of premature ageing (read: wrinkles and fine lines), retinol should be a key consideration in your grooming arsenal. While it’s not an overnight fix, retinol works deep within the skin to speed up skin cell turnover and promote collagen production; with consistent use, it softens wrinkles and fine lines while reducing dark spots and evening out skin tone.
Peptides and ceramides are also beneficial for firmer, more youthful skin. Peptides are short-chain amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins like collagen , keratin, and elastin. When applied topically to the skin in the form of a serum, peptides trigger skin cells to form collagen and elastin, ultimately contributing to firmer skin. Meanwhile, ceramides are lipids naturally found in the skin; these help moisturise the skin and promote a stronger skin barrier.
The best targeted men’s face serums in 2024
From dull skin and dark spots to fine lines and acne, these are the best men’s face serums for every skin concern.
1. Best vitamin C serum: Medik8 Super C Ferulic
An intensely brightening formula, the Medik8 Super C Ferulic contains a massive shelf-stable 30% vitamin C which works synergistically with ferulic acid and vitamin E to provide antioxidant protection against free radical damage, brighten the skin, and prevent signs of ageing.
Price: $140AUD
2. Best hydrating serum for sensitive or irritated skin: Biobod Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum
Designed for sensitive skin in mind, the Biobod Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum provides dehydrated skin with a much-needed dose of hydration courtesy of hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and glycerin. The addition of prebiotics and postbiotics support the skin’s microbiome while green tea, aloe vera, and cica extracts reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.
Price: $65AUD
3. Best serum for anti-ageing: Dermalist Age Defying Multicomplex
Retinol typically doesn’t play nicely with other active ingredients, which is why it’s usually found alone in serums. However, the Dermalist Age Defying Multicomplex manages to safely pair it with vitamin C, niacinamide, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to create an all-in-one serum that help promote collagen and elastin production; improves skin tone, texture, and clarity; and prevents signs of ageing. The ideal nighttime addition for those who want a one-and-done serum.
Price: $179AUD
4. Best serum for skin-strengthening: O Cosmedics EGF Booster
Made with three types of peptides, the O Cosmedics EGF Booster emulates the conditions found in healthy skin, working to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, promote hydration, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and soothe the skin. If you’ve over-exfoliated or have a compromised skin barrier, this is the perfect serum to promote skin repair and support overall skin health.
Price: $137AUD
5. Best retinol serum: Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment
Retinol often comes with some downtime, causing redness, peeling, dryness, and irritation for the uninitiated. However, the Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment combines an easily-tolerated amount of retinol with skin-soothing bakuchiol, which boasts similar anti-ageing effects to retinol, minus the irritation. Combined with peptides, this serum reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, evens skin tone, and firms skin and prevents sagging.
Price: $68AUD
6. Best affordable retinol serum: CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Combining retinol with a trio of ceramides and hyaluronic acid, the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum works to promote skin cell turnover while strengthening the skin barrier and providing hydration. It’s a relatively gentle serum, however if you’re new to retinol it’s best to start by using it 2-3 times a week (at night) and following with a moisturiser.
Price: $39.99AUD
7. Best unique anti-ageing serum: BioEffect EGF Serum
A one-of-a-kind serum, the BioEffect EGF Serum stalls the ageing process by supporting and restoring your body’s own supply of epidermal growth factor (EGF); a protein naturally found in the skin, EGF is responsible for maintaining collagen and elastin function, and hydration levels. Made with a plant-based EGF produced in barley, this serum reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid boost hydration and plump the skin.
Price: $175AUD
8. Best brightening serum for acne-prone skin: SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF
While vitamin C is touted for its brightening effects, it can often cause irritation or breakouts in acne-prone skin. Formulated with acne-prone skin in mind, the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF harnesses the radiance-inducing and free radical-fighting benefits of vitamin C and combines them with phloretin, an antioxidant that works to fade discolouration.
Price: $242AUD
9. Best antioxidant serum: The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%
A powerful serum on a budget, The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% is a potent two-ingredients antioxidant serum that works to improve radiance and prevent and reduce dullness in the short term, and improve collagen and elastin production with consistent use. It also aids the skin’s ability to retain water, resulting in more hydrated skin.
Price: $19.10AUD
10. Best all-rounder serum: Dermalist AllSerum Skin Perfector
Another Dermalist product, but the brand quite simply nails multi-active formulas. The Dermalist AllSerum Skin Perfector combines vitamin C, niacinamide, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and squalane with seven types of peptides, making for a serum that works to brighten, firm, and gently exfoliate the skin. Perfect for targeting pretty much every skin concern, including dullness, dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and acne.
Price: $159AUD
11. Best exfoliating serum for dull skin: Sunday Riley Good Genes
Skincare is often a long game, with consistent and continued use key to good results. However, Sunday Riley Good Genes is one of the rare few products that actually boasts overnight results. Lactic acid clarifies and refines the skin overnight, reducing the appearance of pores and making the skin appear fresher, brighter, and more radiant. The addition of prickly pear extract and aloe vera hydrate the skin while liquorice root extract treats hyperpigmentation and discolouration over time.
Price: $136AUD
12. Best exfoliating serum for mature skin: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum
Lactic acid works to exfoliate dead skin cells to brighten the complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines while the addition of peptides and amino acids firm and strengthen the skin barrier over time. Snow mushroom extract boosts hydration while squalane and marula oil provide a dose of moisture. The ideal do-it-all overnight serum for guys with mature skin.
Price: $131AUD
13. Best serum for dark spots and hyperpigmentation: Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum
Whether you’re dealing with the marks of acne past or sun spots, the Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum uses a combination of mandelic, lactic, and salyicilic acids teamed with niacinamide, peptides, and antioxidants to brighten the skin overnight and fade dark marks with consistent use.
Price: $164AUD
14. Best daytime serum: Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+
If you only use one serum, let it be this one. This daytime serum combines SPF50+ (necessary for even the most steadfast skincare minimalists!) with niacinamide, the latter of which works to fade dark spots, regulate sebum production and reduce breakouts, soothe inflammation, and minimise redness and irritation.
Price: $48AUD
Words by John Deckard
